Reifenberg K, Lehr HA, Baskal D, Wiese E, Schaefer SC, Black S, Samols D, Torzewski M, Lackner KJ, Husmann M, Blettner M, Bhakdi S. Role of C-Reactive Protein in Atherogenesis.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2005;
25:1641-6. [PMID:
15920030 DOI:
10.1161/01.atv.0000171983.95612.90]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Human C-reactive protein (CRP) was reported to accelerate atherosclerotic lesion development in male but not in female apolipoprotein E (apoE) knockout mice. Here, mice expressing rabbit CRP (rbCRP) were crossbred onto apoE knockout animals, and the effect on atherogenesis was studied.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Hemolytic complement activity could not be detected in apoE knockout mice. Furthermore, in contrast to human complement, neither rabbit nor human CRP complexed to modified low-density lipoprotein-activated murine complement. At 52 weeks, rbCRP levels were similar in male and female transgenic animals. Serum cholesterol levels were equivalent in female animals irrespective of rbCRP expression, whereas rbCRP-positive males had significantly higher serum cholesterol levels than the rbCRP-negative counterparts. All mice exhibited extensive atherosclerotic lesions, as studied en face, and no differences were noted between rbCRP-negative and rbCRP-positive animals. Atherosclerotic luminal obstruction of aortic arch and first-order neck branches did not differ significantly between rbCRP-positive and rbCRP-negative mice. There was no correlation between rbCRP levels and atherosclerotic lesion formation.
CONCLUSIONS
No marked effect of rbCRP on the formation of moderately advanced atherosclerotic lesions could be discerned in the apoE knockout mouse. Because of the oddities of the mouse complement system, however, this may not be a good model to investigate the role of CRP in human atherosclerosis.
Collapse